U.S. Pleas Fall On Deaf Ears: Russia Grants Snowden Asylum
WASHINGTON (WJZ) -- Russia is ignoring U.S. pleas to send a man who leaked government secrets back to America.
In fact, the White House is furious the country just granted asylum to former Marylander Edward Snowden.
Christie Ileto has more.
It looks like Russia is sending a clear message to the United States.
Photos show Edward Snowden just before he got into a taxi and drove away from the Moscow airport. The NSA leaker lived inside the airport for more than a month, looking for a legal way out.
Thursday, his attorney held up the documents that grant Snowden asylum in Russia for one year. Through the WikiLeaks website, Snowden thanked Russia and said: "In the end, the law is winning."
The White House is furious, and says Russia should send Snowden home to face trial.
"Mr. Snowden is not a whistleblower. He is accused of leaking classified information," said Jay Carney, White House spokesperson.
Snowden's father says he believes Snowden will keep his promise not to leak any more U.S. secrets.
"I believe my son's work is done with this in terms of he has made a tremendous sacrifice to let the American people [know] what has been done to them and in their name," said Lon Snowden, father.
Snowden's location is being kept a secret, and he'll lose his temporary asylum if he leaves Russia.
Snowden faces three felony counts in the U.S.
The president is re-evaluating a scheduled trip to Moscow next month, during which he was supposed to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
